◤ chapter eight ▸ greatest enemy ◢

━━━━━━━ ✧ ━━━━━━━

THERE WAS ANOTHER PARTY. Instead of just showing up in a random neighborhood and wandering into a stranger's house, Tessa knew who was throwing the party and also knew that she didn't want to go there alone, which was why she invited Rylie, Betty, and Flash.

It was just a simple party, although there was rarely anything 'simple' about a party, if she were being honest. Parties were grand and loud and held so many gallons of alcohol that were being chugged by teenagers and college students alike. Enough that it was a miracle no one got alcohol poisoning, if she were being. And, since she was, she decided that this also deserved a shred of honesty.

The guy's name was Atlas. He was throwing the party and Tessa had met him a couple of times. He flirted with her before Caden puffed up his chest and threatened to fight the guy if he didn't stop talking to his girl. Which was a shame; he looked nice. But Tessa hadn't seen him throw a party since the beginning of the school year, so this was a bit weird.

She decided not to think much about it because all she was there for tonight was to get drunk with some of her newfound friends and forget the past. It was terrible anyway. Well, except for Finn, but he was gone now and she couldn't keep dwelling on him and her guilt.

Rylie looked absolutely stunning. Her blue hair was in a high ponytail and she had a deep red lipstick on that Tessa knew would make other guys drool. Really, it was surprising that Flash wasn't one of them. But maybe the appeal of Rylie had worn off over the course of their friendship.

And Flash's hair was a total and complete mess which Tessa found herself liking more than his usual more slicked back approach that he had. It suited him more and made her want to kiss him, even though she would never do that because it wasn't like they were in a relationship. It was just a simple partnership that was mutually beneficial and nothing more, so she wouldn't complicate it.

And Betty looked ready to get fucked, which she was if her lamenting about being 'dry for too long' was anything to go by. Tessa's own hair was down and she hadn't do anything to dress up; she was here for drinks and dancing, to lose herself in all the movement and nothing more.

They walked into the house and immediately Betty left them behind. Not even a glance in their direction before she entered the crowd of people and let go of herself. Rylie swayed and made her way farther into the house with Tessa going behind her. Flash looked the most out of place and she was tempted to reach out her hand and draw him in but refrained.

She left him behind and didn't feel too bad about it as she went through the house. When she got to the kitchen she saw Atlas laughing with another girl. The beer cans were on the counter and she helped herself to one, gulping part of it down before letting herself breathe again and swallowing the liquid.

"Hey, there," Atlas waved at her.

She smiled and made her way to him, "Hey, Atlas. Nice party."

"Thanks," he said, "I thought I'd never see you here, not after what your boyfriend threatened me with."

She blushed at that, feeling bad that Caden had gotten all possessive and mean over something he didn't even care about in the first place. "Uh, yeah, we're not – we're not together anymore," she told him, "And sorry about that whole thing."

"It's fine," Atlas waved it off, "I mean, it's all in the past, isn't it? And hey, you're here now!"

"And not looking to fuck," Tessa bluntly stated.

"Oh, shit! I didn't mean it like that, shit, sorry," Atlas apologized as the girl beside him laughed, "I mean, I got a boyfriend now and I'm not looking to fuck up that relationship."

Tessa hummed, skimming him up and down before deciding that he was most likely telling the truth.

"Yeah, Ned better not be like Peter and fuck up his relationship with the best boy he's ever gonna get," the girl said, poking at Atlas' side, which made him squeak.

At the name Peter, Tessa frowned, looking at the girl. "Peter? You mean like Peter Parker?"

The girl looked at her before nodding, "Yeah, why?"

"He used to date my friend, Finn," Tessa told her.

"Oh shit – you're Tessa, aren't you?" the girl pieced together and Tessa backed away, "I'm Toni, Finn's cousin."

Tessa nodded in understanding, "Oh, so you're the girl that fucked my boyfriend for a long ass while until you found out that he was with me. Yeah, I've heard of you."

At the mention of her past mistakes, Toni blushed. "Yeah, guilty. Sorry about that, by the way. I would've never slept with him if I knew."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Finn said you were sorry and everything. I was just messing with you for fun," Tessa laughed. Toni cracked a smile at her.

"Well," Toni looked between the two of them, "I have to get back to Harry. I'll see you later, Atlas, and it was nice meeting you, Tessa."

Tessa muttered something back at her and Atlas nodded. They watched her walk away and then Tessa excused herself, leaving Atlas alone. She went back to the living room where the majority of people were. Gulping down more of her beer, she laughed at the people before joining in.

Her head shook wildly and her hair went crazy, blonde covered her hair but she didn't mind. She didn't see Rylie or Betty, but she did see Flash. He was very slowly losing himself in the music with the others, more self-conscious than everyone else even though the others in the room were drunk and didn't even notice him. Still, she could admit that it was cute.

Tessa made her way towards him, swaying her hips. Flash noticed her and smiled and she smirked back at him. He laughed when she started dancing next to him and offered his hand, which she took to spin herself, laughing with him as she did.

"Having fun?" she asked, loud over the music so that he could hear her.

He nodded his head but neither were convinced that he was telling the truth. "Oh yeah, so much fun."

"Why'd you come if you don't even like this kinda scene?" she asked him another question, taking another sip of her liquor.

"Betty's persuasive," he told her, "Gets me to do shit I don't wanna all the time. It's pretty fucking annoying."

Tessa hummed but it wasn't heard over the loud music. They continued to dance together, no more words said between, slowly drawing closer and closer. A loose smile made its way onto her lips as she lost herself, swaying to the music and just barely recognizing it. Her cognitive brain was slowly losing itself as she just danced with him right there.

He took the beer can from her hand and took a sip and she did nothing to stop him, instead just letting out a giggle. Only when he was done did she take a sip of it herself.

His arms wrapped around her torso and she smiled to herself, consuming more alcohol and letting it rush through her veins. No more thinking, no more hesitating; just this. Right now in the present moment and nothing more. It was glorious, having him hold her as they danced with everyone else. Her mind slowly withering away. She didn't have to think through how bad her decisions were, she just got to dance and be with him.

Time passed by them without care and she couldn't tell you if it had been a minute or an hour. Nothing could stop this feeling, she thought idly, nothing could tear this electric night away from them.

Until she felt Flash being ripped away from her and a hand on her shoulder gripping her harshly as if trying to gain her submission. The moment was over, the feeling gone, and her mind returned to her mind. She glared at the person who tore them apart, the look becoming more of Medusa's once she saw that it was Caden.

"What the hell?" she questioned him, pushing him back from her, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

Caden was seething; a rage that Tessa had seen plenty times before when she made mistakes and needed to be punished. "Me? What the fuck do you think you're doing? Acting like a slut and whoring yourself out to anyone who wants it."

She wanted to scream and grip her hair and tug, she wanted to push him away and hurt him. "I'm not a fucking whore."

"Then stop acting like it!" Caden yelled at her.

"I'm not a slut, I'm not throwing myself around. I know him, he's my friend. What makes you think you can do this? We're done, Caden, I'm never coming back," Tessa told him sternly, raising her voice to what she thought was an appropriate level.

Caden just rolled his eyes, "You don't know what you're talking about, you're drunk."

"I wasn't drunk when I told you the first time and I'm only a little tipsy now. I know what I'm saying and I mean it," Tessa disproved his defense, "I don't want to get back with you and you have no right to put your fucking hands on me or him."

"You're my girl, that gives me every right," Caden said, stepping close.

"I'm not your anything, you son of a bitch!" Tessa practically screamed, though all of those around them seemed to not notice as they just continued to dance.

Caden opened his mouth to say something else but before anything could come out, a voice stopped him. "What the fuck do you think you're doing here?"

Tessa looked to see that it was Toni, who had the same disgusted look that she dawned on her own features. Beside her was Atlas who had his arms crossed with muscles out on display.

"It's a party," Caden explained himself, though he failed to elaborate further.

"Yeah, one I didn't invite you to," Atlas said, "One that I specifically said that you and your crew aren't allowed at."

Caden rolled his eyes, "Oh, come on, man. Don't you think you're being a little harsh?"

"No, now get the fuck out before I beat your ass," Atlas threatened. Caden eyed him up and down, considering the threat, before rolling his eyes and walking away. Tessa let out a breath that she didn't even know she was holding.

Toni sighed and walked towards Tessa, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and rubbing to calm her. "It's alright. He won't come back here, you're okay now."

Tessa scoffed. As if this girl knew anything about Caden. They just fucked while she was in a relationship with him; she knew what he was like, what he could do, what he would do.

"You don't know that. He could be waiting outside to jump me," Tessa snapped back before recoiling, feeling bad after what they had just done for her, "But thanks. I, uh, I appreciate it."

Atlas shrugged. "No problem. I don't fuck with people like him. He should've known better then to come around here."

"And here I thought you went soft for Ned," Toni commented, a cocky smile on her face. Atlas rolled his eyes and pushed his shoulder roughly against hers, causing her to stumble and laugh.

"Um," Flash cleared his throat, "So that's your ex?"

And shit. She felt bad that she had kind of forgotten about him. "Yep," she nodded.

"Then I'm sorry," Flash said, a flicker of understanding in his eyes that made Tessa's breath catch in her throat. Shit. If he knew what Caden was really like, if he knew what it was like to be in her position, she didn't know what she was going to do. It was terrible and she doesn't want him to go through what she did; she doesn't want that to happen on anyone, not even her greatest enemies.

Well, her greatest enemy was Caden, and she might – just a little – wish that he knew how it felt. But not really. Not very much. Only a little taste.

Still, she nodded in his direction. "Thanks," she managed to get out, feeling awkward about it as did the others.

Because they all felt bad for her, all this sympathy that she didn't want. It's why she wouldn't tell Rylie or even Betty or Flash now. She didn't want anyone to know, to treat her like fragile glass or weak because of everything that happened. She hated it, but she couldn't do anything about what they felt.

"I'm gonna go get another drink," Tessa said, leaving without another drink. It would be better when she got drunk; it was always better that way.